Page 23 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 20

well-being (total effect of .472, p < .01), and to Rela�onship with God and Character in Chris-
a lesser degree sa�sfac�on (total effect of .352,
p < .01). These findings suggest increases in a
rela�onship with God may primarily predict in-
creased emo�onal experience and a broader
sense of meaning and purpose, which fits with
prior findings (Keefer & Brown, 2018; Rainville
& Mehegan, 2019). Finally, in answering RQ2, a
rela�onship with God predicted significant (p <
.01) direct increases in gra�tude (total effect of
.411), compassion (total effect of .392), and hu-
mility (total effect of .333) in the sample.
Research Ques�on 3
A few data points support the asser�on that
humility may be a master virtue beyond the
strong model fit sta�s�cs. Cri�cally, rela�ons-
hip with God correlated with the increases in
compassion (.102, p < .01) and gra�tude (.029,
p < .01) that were mediated through humility.
Next, increases in humility directly and signifi-
cantly predicted increases in compassion (.31,
p < .01), and to a lesser degree gra�tude (.092,
p < .01). The data suggests humility may pro-
ceed as a primary character virtue as the effect
of a rela�onship with God is par�ally mediated
upon gra�tude and compassion through humi-
lity.
Discussion
This study tested a causal framework (model)
of rela�onships that proposed a rela�onship
with God is mediated on well-being by the cha-
racter virtues humility, gra�tude, and compas-
sion. The model demonstrated good sta�s�cal
fit to the data. Rela�onships between the varia-
bles suggest that a rela�onship with God in the
life of Chris�ans appears to have substan�al im-
plica�ons for character virtue forma�on, which
then also benefits well-being. It appears the
three virtues relate differently to a rela�onship
with God and well-being, and that humility may
act as a master virtue in the development of
other character virtues with varying impact (La-
velock et al., 2017).
23
�ans
This study aligns with prior research that sug-
gests a rela�onship with God increases well-
being (e.g., Diener et al., 2010; Vishkin et al.,
2019), while iden�fying this reality within a
Chris�an sample. U�lizing an emic measure of
rela�onship with God (CGS) allowed the study
to examine a Chris�an experience of intrinsical-
ly mo�vated rela�onship with God, rather than
a psychologically defined a�achment perspec-
�ve, or simple measures of religious ac�vity. In
conjunc�on with Knabb and Wang (2019) this
study adds to the evidence that a rela�onship
with God likely enhances well-being in Chris�-
ans, and suggests these gains come through
changes in emo�onal experience and a sense
of meaning. This aligns with sugges�ons that
Chris�ans’ experience rela�onship with God as
providing a new iden�ty and changed affec�-
ons of the heart (Greggo, 2016; Strawn, 2004).
Furthermore, these changes in well-being may
be facilitated through the growth of character
virtues as Chris�ans relate to God. For Chris�-
ans, it can be suggested that rela�onship with
God may serve as an effec�ve posi�ve psycho-
logical method for suppor�ng well-being. Gi-
ven the tense history between religion and psy-
chology this cohesion is posi�ve news (Charry
& Kosits, 2017). What is not clear is if these fin-
dings hold for those affiliated to other religions
or rela�onships to a god.
Character virtue media�on
The current findings support prior studies that
found virtues mediated between a rela�onship
with God and well-being, (e.g., Paine et al.,
2018; Rosmarin et al., 2011; Steffen & Masters,
2005), while also indica�ng rela�ve differences.
This study illuminates some character changes
to expect in a US Chris�an popula�on if they in-
vest in their rela�onship with God. Reasonable
ques�ons emerge; Are US biases shaping Chris-
�an forma�on? Does the privileged posi�on of
a predominantly white US sample lend this